If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
No one likes having offended another person; hence everyone feels so much better if the other person doesn't show he's been offended. Nobody likes being confronted by a wounded spaniel. Remember that. It is much easier patiently - and tolerantly - to avoid the person you have injured than to approach him as a friend. You need courage for that.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often prefer to avoid confronting someone they have hurt rather than face the discomfort of reconciliation.
This quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein reflects on the human tendency to evade uncomfortable situations, particularly when it comes to interpersonal relationships. It suggests that rather than confront the feelings of guilt or regret after offending someone, individuals might choose to distance themselves in order to maintain their own comfort. There is an acknowledgment that approaching someone you've hurt requires bravery and emotional strength, highlighting the complexities of human interactions and the delicate nature of feelings involved in relationships.
Themes
CourageRelationshipsOffenseForgivenessAvoidance
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting where tensions were high, I shared this quote to remind everyone of the importance of tackling misunderstandings with courage.
More from Ludwig Wittgenstein
All quotes →One cannot guess how a word functions. One has to look at its use and learn from that. But the difficulty is to remove the prejudice which stands in the way of doing this. It is not a stupid prejudice.
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It's impossible for me to say one word about all that music has meant to me in my life. How, then, can I hope to be understood?
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Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself.
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My day passes between logic, whistling, going for walks, and being depressed. I wish to God that I were more intelligent and everything would finally become clear to me - or else that I needn't live much longer.
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I am sitting with a philosopher in the garden; he says again and again 'I know that that’s a tree', pointing to a tree that is near us. Someone else arrives and hears this, and I tell him: 'This fellow isn’t insane. We are only doing philosophy.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
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